Rodrigo Cuevas is celebrated as a rare gem in the national cultural scene, a bold voice merging folklore with fearless experimentation. At Sony Music Spain, the label notes that what once hid in the shadows has become an open secret since its inception, an artist whose folkloric militancy and subversive spirit have always pushed boundaries.
As Cuevas moves forward, major plans unfold. A countdown has been circulating on social networks and is expected to reach zero today at midnight on April 14, signaling the arrival of new music. The moment is framed as a decisive push toward a forthcoming milestone in his career.
Plans culminate in the album Manual de peregrinaje Porto Rico, which will be completed in a matter of months. The lead single More Animals introduces a fresh sonic palette and a visually charged video directed by Ricardo Villoria. The clip is described as a bold exploration of desire, featuring raw textures and charged imagery that blend mud, movement and intensity. The project uses powerful visuals to mirror the evolving stanzas in Cuevas’ repertoire, pairing dance with a grounded, tactile edge. The vibe is to invite listeners to dance and move with the music, letting the rhythm narrate the moment.
Three years after the acclaimed release of Manual de cortejo, which earned Cuevas a place among contemporary folklore’s brightest talents and won him the Revelation Artist prize at the 2020 MIN Awards, the 2022 Rainbow Award from the Ministry of Equality, and the 2021 RNE Critical Eye Award for Modern Music, he introduces Más animal as the opening statement of a new creative phase. The work signals a shift toward a more immersive, courtship-centered soundscape that floods the listener with new textures and ideas.
The initial tour for Manual de cortejo benefited from the collaboration with producer Raül Refree, and the upcoming project promises a broader partnership with the Puerto Rican icon Eduardo Cabra from Calle 13. Cabra is hailed as a visionary who embodies global folklore, and Sony Music Spain highlights the collaboration as a dream realized. The partnership aims to fuse Cuevas’ Asturian roots with Cabra’s expansive musical language, expanding the reach of the artist’s distinctive approach.
Alongside Cabra, iLe, a leading figure in Caribbean music, contributes to the album and the new single. iLe is credited with guiding the integration of Puerto Rican indigenous folk elements and enriching the track with a tribute to the creative spark that arose during a long journey across the island during recording. This collaboration underscores Cuevas’ interest in bridging regional styles with a contemporary, global sensibility.
Mas animal blends muiñeira with ajechao to form a musical and visual hymn. The work of Villoria adds a layer of sensuality, vitality, and force, serving as the crown of performances that will accompany the La Romería tour. The tour kicks off at Festival(a)phónica on June 30, 2023, with a run that extends through 2024 and beyond. The emphasis remains on living music that moves bodies and stories alike, inviting audiences to participate fully in the performance experience. [1]